Guitar Nerds Anonymous

This is a bit OT but i'm thinking about shooting some vids of solo acoustic performances, has anyone got any hot tips? Apart from "don't do it". Was thinking more about tips the production side of it really.

I kind of feel goofy doing it - the grumpy old git side of my brain thinks that this is something whimsical teenage girls do, breathily covering 80s pop in their bedrooms in front of backdrop of fairy lights - but I also think that you of you want any chance of engagement with what you do these days it's got to be visual right? Nobody clicks links to bandcamp etc. I just figured having a catalogue of decently recorded live vids would minimise the chance that these songs will sink without trace. As i'm no longer working in a band and have just started a regime of live solo performance recordings I figured I might as well film them, try to make it as professional looking as possible and stick them up. Will let you dudes know how I get on.

A friend of mine has been doing these for a while now (for other solo artists) and I was part of the house band for a bit.
http://www.thepreservationroom.com If you want to check them out.
His setup was a couple of hand-held cameras, a couple on tripods and a couple of go-pros mounted each end of a long stick attached to a disco ball motor - gave quite a lot of movement with minimal cost but probably a bit overkill for your needs. If you want it to look nice though, a little bit of lighting will go a long way.

Oh cool. I've seen them. Which ones did you play on?

Yeah I think you may be right. Have roped in a producer/director friend to help me out setting it up in a week or two. His remit is to help me use what I have (compact dslr and whatever lights I already own).

From a direction point of view I could definitely use some help too. This may sound silly but I find it impossible to figure out where to look when playing to a single fixed camera. Staring straight down the lens feels creepy and staring blankly at a wall (or your shoes) feels equally odd. Must watch a few of these to figure out what I like and what I don't.

Anyway, sorry for the derail. Back to guitfiddles.

From what I remember I played for David walker, Benbo, VIB, Baby Sol, Soul Naturals and a couple of my own tracks. Not sure how many made the cut though!
I know what you mean about the camera, it’s bad enough playing live without one.

Cool man! I’ll check them out!

I saw Willy Mason at the weekend. There was a bass drum sound but no drummer. He seemed to be tapping a pedal. Is that a thing?

got any hot tips?

Just don't GAF. Oh, and try to record it directly onto a wax disc. Like this:
https://youtu.be/9f5uwwcOpB8?list=PLKORfp8oYR5xemCRX1ZsvaihiND31YEdC

Could have been sat on a cajon with a kick pedal under his heel. Seen lots of people do that, sounds great.

Yeah it is. Either an electronic pedal or you can get a little wooden box that's got a mic in it. Or it could be something like a single midi key

Every day is a school day. It was definitely a pedal. Suspect a mic given how lo-if everything else was.

Anybody interested in a Fuzzrocious Demon? Like this one with the gate/boost mod but in a bare aluminum finish.

http://www.guitarfxdirect.com/fuzzrocious-pedals-demon-gate-boost-mod-p422

Check my homies being all serious and nervous on camera. God I love these dudes. That J50 is the one I played in the last batch of Elvers recordings. It’s unbelievably lovely
https://youtu.be/7xrR0GOkH2g

its a stomper pedal.

I've only noticed folkists use them personally.

Been having some really spooky flashbacks playing my Jag over the last few days... I played loads of very weird, cheap, knock-off Jag look-a-likes in my fave local music shop, Polymart of Clapham High Street back in the early 80s... I'm instantly transported back to those times when I play this Jag, it's a bit emotional... I like it... #timetravelisreal

This was quite folky/bluegrassy. Willy Mason.

Some of the best people played weird, cheap, knock-off Jag look-a-likes...

1 Attachment

No trem, fucking loser...

Fucken hipster. Probably got that tee at Top Shop. Bet he doesn't even own any Ramones records

Interesting to see Keef playing a Melody Maker...

OK, maybe not so interesting... 🤓

OK, the Brisbane Turbonegro tribute band are gearing up for a comeback, but don't call it a comeback! My early 70s Les Paul Custom squeals quite a bit through my Solton head, it's really fucking annoying... Even at relatively low volumes... Thinking of taking the pickup covers off in case there's any weird vibration/harmonic interference in there... I know historically this has been perceived to be a thing... What say you?

PS I'm also putting together a separate mini board for playing with these guys... Harley Benton PSU, just found another Mk1 Guv'nor, envelope filter, need a tuner but that'll be pretty much it... Maybe a feedback/sustainer....

Have they gone microphonic? I’ve no experience with covered pickups but I have had to re-pot dodgy single coils a few times.

Quite possibly, they squeal when they're at high volume/gain... Very unpleasant...

Might be only slight then - if you tap them can you hear it through the amp?
Wax-potting is pretty easy if you have a bit of time, or it’s also a good excuse to get new pickups!